How to Add Subtitles On TikTok Automatically? A Step-By-Step Guide

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In today’s digital world, a strong presence on platforms like TikTok is no longer optional; it is necessary for growth. Many brands and creators are actively producing TikTok content, but they often miss a simple step that could significantly expand their reach and impact.

We’re talking about subtitles. Knowing how to add subtitles on TikTok automatically is a game-changer for your content marketing strategy.

This guide will walk you through the entire process, step by step.

Adding video captions to your own videos makes your video content more accessible and can improve how long people watch your videos.

For TikTok creators, this is a simple way to make your content better for everyone. When you use the captions feature, you’re not just adding text to a screen; you’re opening up your content to a broader audience and telling TikTok’s algorithm that your videos are high-quality.

We’ll show you how to turn on this powerful tool, edit your captions for clarity, and explain why this small effort delivers big results.

Let’s make your next new TikTok your most successful one yet.

How to Add Subtitles on TikTok Automatically?

The TikTok app has a built-in caption feature that makes adding subtitles incredibly simple. It uses powerful speech recognition technology to listen to your voice and turn it into text.

This means you don’t have to type out everything you say, which saves a lot of time. Following these steps will help you add automatic captions to your next TikTok video with ease.

Step 1: Record Or Upload Your Video Content

First, you need to have a video. Open TikTok on your phone. You have two choices: you can either record a new video directly within the app by pressing the plus (+) button at the bottom of the screen, or you can upload a video file that you’ve already saved to your phone’s camera roll. Many video creators prefer to film their content outside the app and upload it later, as it gives them more control over the recording.

Whether you record in the app or upload an existing clip, the next steps for adding tiktok subtitles will be the same. Once your video is ready, tap the red checkmark in the corner of the screen to move forward.

Step 2: Navigate to the Post-Production Editing Page

After you finish recording or select your video from your camera roll, you will be taken to the main editing screen. This is the central hub for all your video editing work.

Here, you can add sounds, effects, filters, and text.

This screen can look busy with all the different icons, but don’t worry. The tool you need is easy to find. Before you get lost in all the fun editing tools, take a moment to look for the options panel. This is where you will find the button to generate your auto captions.

Step 3: Locate and Tap the “Captions” Icon

On the editing screen, look at the column of icons on the right side. You should see an icon labeled “Captions.” It sometimes looks like a small square with lines of text inside.

Once you find this captions icon, tap on it. Tapping this button tells the TikTok app that you want it to create closed captions for your audio content.

If you don’t see it on the right corner of the screen, it might be hidden under an “Edit” or arrow button, so check there as well. The location can sometimes change with app updates, but it is almost always on the main editing screen.

Step 4: Let TikTok Process and Generate the Text

Once you tap the captions icon, TikTok will begin processing your video.

You will see a loading message that says “Creating auto captions…” This is where the magic happens. The app’s speech recognition technology analyzes the audio content of your video, listening to everything you said. It then converts the spoken words into written text.

The time it takes depends on your video length; longer videos will naturally take a bit more time to process. Be patient and let the app do its work.

It’s usually very fast, often taking just a few seconds for a typical TikTok video.

Step 5: Review and Edit the Automated Subtitles

No technology is perfect, and the auto captions feature is no exception.

After TikTok generates the text, it’s very important to review it. The speech recognition technology might mishear certain words, especially names, slang, or technical terms.

You might also notice it picks up filler words like “um” or “ah.”

To fix these mistakes, look for a pencil icon or an “Edit” button next to the generated captions. Tapping this will open up the text editor, where you can make corrections. The goal is to have accurate captions that perfectly match what you are saying in the video.

This editing process is key for a professional result and ensures better accuracy.

Step 6: Post Your Video With Captions

After you have reviewed and edited your TikTok captions to perfection, you are ready to share your work. Simply exit the caption editor and proceed to the final posting screen.

Add your video description, choose a cover image, and set your privacy settings.

When you hit the “Post” button, your new TikTok will be uploaded to your TikTok profile with the video captions you created. Viewers will now be able to read along with your video, whether they have the sound on or off.

Congratulations, you’ve just made your TikTok content more accessible and engaging for all TikTok users.

Why You Should Use Automatic Subtitles On TikTok?

Adding automatic subtitles to your videos is more than just a cool feature; it is a strategic move that can dramatically improve your content’s performance.

For serious TikTok creators, this is a non-negotiable part of the creation process.

Here’s why the captions feature is so important for reaching a wider audience and improving your presence on social media platforms.

To Improve Accessibility For Viewers

One of the biggest reasons to use TikTok subtitles is to make your content accessible to everyone. Millions of people are deaf or hard of hearing, and without captions, they cannot understand the audio content of your videos.

Including accurate captions ensures that you reach a vast community, thereby expanding your audience and demonstrating your consideration as a creator.

This small effort can make a significant difference for numerous TikTok users, fostering connections with people you may not have engaged with otherwise.

On social media, closed captions—which viewers have the option to enable or disable—are a common practice for promoting inclusivity in content.

To Boost Viewer Engagement and Watch Time

TikTok’s algorithm pays close attention to how viewers interact with your content.

One of the most important metrics is watch time, which is the average amount of time people spend watching your videos.

When you add video captions, you give people more reasons to stick around.

Many users scroll through their feeds with the sound off, especially if they are in a public place like a bus, a library, or a quiet office.

If your video has subtitles, they can still understand what’s happening and will likely watch the entire part of the video. Longer watch time signals to the algorithm that your TikTok content is valuable, which can lead to it being shown to more people.

To Make Content Clear Without Sound

Beyond long watch time, captions ensure your message is always understood. Think about all the situations where sound isn’t an option.

Someone might be watching your new video late at night while their family is sleeping. Or, your video itself might have poor audio quality due to background noise. In all these cases, TikTok captions save the day.

They provide a clear, written version of your message that isn’t dependent on sound. This ensures your jokes land, your instructions are clear, and your story is heard, no matter the viewing environment. This makes your video content much more versatile and effective.

Tips For Editing Your Auto-Generated TikTok Subtitles

While TikTok’s auto captions tool is incredibly helpful, it rarely produces a perfect result on the first try. Taking a few extra minutes to clean up your manual captions during the editing process can make a huge difference in quality.

Here are some tips for making your TikTok subtitles shine.

Correcting Spelling and Grammar Errors

The first thing you should do is read through the generated text to catch any errors.

The speech recognition technology is smart, but it can struggle with names, branded terms, accents, or technical terms. It might also misspell common words or use incorrect punctuation. Use the pencil icon to go in and fix these mistakes.

Also, look for and remove any filler words that the app might have picked up. Removing “uhs” and “ums” makes your accurate captions look cleaner and more professional, which contributes to better accuracy between the spoken and written word.

Customizing Font Style and Color

Don’t just stick with the default look. TikTok offers customization options for your captions. You can change the font, size, and color of your text. This is a great opportunity to align the captions with your brand’s visual identity.

For example, you can use different fonts and colors that match your logo or the overall aesthetic of your TikTok profile.

You can also use customization to improve readability. A bright color can help the text stand out against a busy background, ensuring your video captions are easy to read. This is a simple but effective content marketing tactic.

Adjusting the Timing of Captions

Sometimes, the timing of the auto subtitles can be slightly off.

A caption might appear too early or linger on the screen for too long after the words have been spoken.

In the caption editing tools, you can adjust the timing of each text block. You can drag the start and end points of each caption to make sure it syncs perfectly with your speech.

Well-timed captions make the viewing experience much smoother and more professional. This is an important step in the video editing of your own videos, ensuring every part of the video is polished.

FAQ’s:

Can I Edit Auto-Generated Subtitles Before Posting On TikTok?

Yes, you can, and you absolutely should. After the automatic captions are generated on the editing screen, you will have the chance to review and edit them. Simply tap the pencil icon to open the text editor, where you can correct spelling, fix punctuation, and adjust timing to ensure you have accurate captions before your new video goes live.

Can I Change the Language of the Subtitles On TikTok?

The captions feature on TikTok automatically generates text in the language that is spoken in the video.

As a creator, you cannot change the language of the captions it generates. However, TikTok does have a translation feature that allows viewers in other regions to translate your captions into their own language, helping your TikTok content reach an even wider audience.

How Do I Turn Subtitles On Or Off While Watching TikTok Videos?

As a viewer, you have control over captions.

If a video includes closed captions, you can usually tap on the caption text itself to hide captions. Sometimes, there is a captions option in the “Share” menu in the right corner of the screen. This allows you to choose whether you see subtitles on TikTok or prefer to watch without them.

Are There Third-Party Apps to Add Subtitles?

Yes, there are many third-party video editing apps and editing tools that allow you to create highly customized captions.

Some creators use these for more advanced customization options or to create open captions that are permanently part of the video.

However, for most TikTok users, the built-in auto captions feature is fast, free, and effective enough for their needs, especially if they are posting on other social media platforms like a YouTube channel and need consistency.

Will Adding Automatic Subtitles Help My TikTok Reach More Viewers?

Yes, it will. Adding automatic subtitles helps TikTok’s algorithm in two key ways. First, it makes your content accessible, which can increase your potential audience. Second, it often increases watch time because people can watch without sound.

Both of these factors are positive signals to the algorithm, which may reward your TikTok video by showing it to a broader audience.

Conclusion

Learning how to add subtitles on TikTok is an easy skill. It can help all TikTok users in many ways. When you add subtitles, more people can watch and enjoy your videos. This helps you reach a bigger group and makes your TikTok page friendly for everyone. Subtitles can also increase how long people watch your videos. More people may like or comment, which can help your videos do better on TikTok.

As a result, you might get more views and more followers. The steps are fast and simple because the tools are already in the TikTok app. The benefits of adding subtitles are big for anyone who wants to grow online.

Small things like this can make a big difference if you want to get noticed on social media. At Social Think, we help businesses learn about social media and get good results. If you want advice or a plan to make your content better, talk to the team at Social Think today.